TT BLOG

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Tom looks ahead to the January games

United’s first game of 2026 was made to wait after the late decision from Dover (12pm is not an “early pitch inspection”) to call off our first away trip of the new year. It left all associated with the Yellow Army out of pocket including an estimated loss to the club of £6,000 and a wasted trip to near the French border.

Instead it’s all eyes on Plainmoor as the Gulls face a mix of promotion contenders and relegation threatened sides to kickstart the year.

Let’s take an indepth review of January’s fixtures.

10/01 – Hampton & Richmond Borough (H) – NLS Position: 21st

The conquerors of fortress Plainmoor last season, Hampton & Richmond Borough come to Plainmoor on the back of a difficult end to 2025.

Many would have expected the Beaver’s to struggle before a ball was kicked over the summer, with a number of key players departing the club and the continued focus of signing players further down the pyramid and apparent cost cutting measures for the part time side.

Beloved by everyone associated at the Beveree, former player Alan Julian was sacked in early December after being hit for six goals by Eastbourne Borough, who themselves were demolished at Plainmoor by the Gulls just a week prior.

Alan Dowson returns to the dugout for his second spell at managing the Beavers with Gulls fans familiar with his dulcet northern tones as former Woking manager, who battled with the Gulls for top spot in our title triumph in the 18/19 season.

For United, it’s games like this that we absolutely have to win for our promotion push. Hampton will look to frustrate us and try and build from their 2-0 win against Farnborough on Boxing Day in their bid to avoid the drop, which was their last fixture due to the recent cold snap.

Torquay will be aware of compliancy after last season, but the Gulls should have more than enough to see off the Beavers.

Tommy’s prediction – Torquay Win

17/01 – Maidstone (H) – NLS Position: 7th

Oh no, not the Stones again!

Maidstone have quietly gone under the radar in their rise up the table in recent weeks after an inconsistent start to the season for the Kent side, the Stones currently find themselves on a run of five games unbeaten in the league.

We all know our record against Maidstone is abysmal, with only one win in fifteen in all competitions, including the Stones knocking us out of the FA Trophy at Plainmoor earlier in the season.

United will want to seek some form of redemption against a very organised and physical side, as Sonny Blu-Lo Everton found out when he was taken out of action by John Gilbert, who scored in the Trophy game to knock the Gulls out.

If you open up the Torquay United dictionary and look up the term “bogey team”, you’ll find Maidstone United.

With a mostly fit squad to choose from, it should be a much closer contest like our visit to the Gallager early on in the season.

A draw here wouldn’t be a terrible result. Playing them again in May might be. I’ll be optimistic.

Tommy’s prediction – Draw

24/01 – Enfield (A) – NLS Position: 23rd

Enfield have found it difficult going this season, despite a spirited 2nd half performance at Plainmoor on the opening day in where the visitors would have felt disappointed not to have taken back at least a point from Devon.

Despite finding it difficult on the road, the Towners have taken six points from their last three home games including a home 5-1 thrashing against Farnborough and a comeback 2-1 victory against Maidstone.

Their form since Boxing Day has been challenging, conceding ten goals in their last three games and United will be hoping to capitalise on their defensive fragilities at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

Enfield hit form at just the right time to survive an instant return to the Isthmian League last season and United will no doubt be made to work hard to bring the three points back down to Devon.

The big question will be whether United can perform consistently enough on the road against the lesser sides in the division. At Bath, we lacked that cutting edge in the final third.

If we are to be title contenders, we really need to be winning games like this and on a regular basis.

Tommy’s prediction – Torquay Win

27/01 – Farnborough (H) – NLS Position: 20th

It has been a very challenging season for the Boro this season. No other team (at time of publishing) have conceded more goals than them (51) and they find themselves looking over their shoulders sitting just above the relegation zone by a point but having played three games more than Hampton in 21st. You have to say, things already are looking bleak.

Torquay easily dispatched of the Hampshire side with one of their best performances of the season back in early November and with only one away win all season for the Hampshire side, Torquay will feel this is a game that they should be winning and winning well.

Spencer Day is one of the leagues most respected managers and I imagine will set up the Boro to sit back and play on the counter in the hope of nicking the first goal and making it a frustrating evening for us at Plainmoor.

I imagine (like many in this division) it will feel like a free hit for the Boro and the focus will be that all the pressure will be on us to get the three points.

With respect to the Farnborough supporters I know, no one will expect them to win at Plainmoor, but then again, we thought that of Tonbridge Angels.

Our record in midweek games has been pretty stellar this season. It should be a home win. I expect it will be a home win. Will it be a home win?

Tommy’s prediction – Torquay win

31/01 – Hornchurch (A) – NLS Position: 3rd

Many people’s dark horses for the NLS title this season, the Urchins inflicted the Gulls first home defeat of the season back in early November and find themselves firmly in the title race, despite falling down to 3rd spot after being top of the league for most of the season

With Hornchurch still involved in the FA Trophy, their recent form at home has been less than stellar with the club last registering a league win at the Hornchurch Stadium on October 25th against Hampton & Richmond (although have and face a busy month of fixtures including trips to Dorking Wanderers, Weston Super Mare & Chesham before our visit at the end of the month.

That said, Hornchurch have only tasted defeat at home once all season and with the likes of Balanta in their ranks, United will be weary of the threat imposed by the Urchins in what should be a stern test for Paul Wotton’s side.

United will need to be quick out the blocks if they are to find a positive result here. Personally, I think if we are to taste defeat this month, it would be at Hornchurch, but with a full-strength team at our disposal*, it should be a close contest either way.

A win here would be a big statement going into February.

*hopefully

Tommy’s prediction – Hornchurch win

Predicted Pts Tally: 10 /15